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The Italian chain Prezzo is likely to shut 100 of its 300 outlets, while its TexMex unit Chimichanga might close completely. Over the last few weeks, Jamie's Italian has had to restructure, and so has the upmarket burger group Byron. The 'casual dining sector', as the marketing gurus describe it in their power point presentations, is suddenly in big trouble: so much so that some analysts have talked of a 'restau-poclypse' sweeping the sector.

That is sad, of course, for the companies themselves, and the people who work for them. But it is something else as well – a tragedy for the traditional the town centre. Many shops have...